Eleanor & Oscar's Adventures: November 2010

Thanksgiving

What child labor laws???

The children volunteered to help peel potatoes, honest.

We did the majority of our kitchen prep work on Wednesday so Thursday was very relaxing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eleanor was such a great helper. She had us wear our matching aprons during kitchen work and made the excellent suggestion of a buffet line vs passing dishes around the table.

Eleanor also helped set the table and made name place cards.

Our friend Mr. Jeff brought a beautiful fresh floral cornicopia centerpiece!

Grandma Judi basting our 19 pound turkey & making gravy.

It was so big that the lid of my roasting pan didn't seal so we had to resort to tinfoil. This was the first time I bought a fresh bird (not frozen), it was wonderfully moist and oh so good!

Marthalee & Oscar share a tender moment after taking a swing break outside.

(She is so wonderful with him, swinging & talking with him in the morning, weather permitting, while Eleanor makes final preparations for her departure for school).

Kristian carving.

Marthalee pouring.

Dishing up are Poppa Ronnie, Grandma Judi & Uncle Duane.

Turkey overload = naptime!

Stayin' Warm

Grandma Judi knit this beautiful scarf for Eleanor while she was driving to visit us! It is so delicate and pretty, she loves the pom-poms.

More Fall Color

The red maple in front of the house cast a lovely glow inside the living room.

Jasmine supervising Oscar & I raking leaves.

He is a good helper!

Thanksgiving Feast

Eleanor on the morning of her school Thanksgiving Feast. I was able to join her, along with her classmates, in the school cafeteria for a festive & fun traditional lunch.

Oscar getting in on the photo action in his monster pajamas!

Birthday Time!

Kristian & the children took me out for a wonderful dinner at Legal Seafoods in Crystal City for my birthday.

We had yummy cake and ice cream at home afterwards...too much sugar perhaps?

Lost Tooth!

Eleanor pulled out her extremely loose tooth on Friday while she was at school!

That makes 3 visits from the Tooth Fairy now. I love my baby girl's new grin, don't you?

Fall Color

The fall colors combined with 60 degree weather made for a perfect birthday weekend.

Fall is my new second favorite season (spring is first.) Growing up with evergreens in Southeast Alaska I didn't appreciate the colors of fall until I had personally experienced them, starting in college.

One of the two burning bushes in our backyard.

I love looking out the back windows to this brilliant display of color. We are thankful our homeowners did an excellent job landscaping & feel so blessed to enjoy this "sanctuary in the city."

Jasmine loves being out on the patio, "surverying her kingdom" from atop the brick steps.

School Project

Eleanor made a personal "Timeline" for a project in school. She did a great job with very little coaching & is very proud of her creation. She presented it to her class and I can't wait to see them all hanging in the hallway when I attend the upcoming Thanksgiving Feast.

Oscar, shovel in hand, is ready for an exciting day of preschool after dropping off big sister at her school. He continues to love preschool, his teacher tells me he is "Mr. Popularity" and has set a trend with fleece hoodies as his buddies are all wearing them now. I forsee frat parties in our future...not sure if I should be scared or laughing for my little comedian.

Fun-filled Family Weekend

Eleanor was thrilled to have her friend Emma come visit from Norfolk!

We rode the metro in to the District & went to the Museum of Natural History.

Oscar & Abby enjoying the metro ride.

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil...not necessarily in that order.

Walking hand in hand on the National Mall towards the Capital Building.

Wish I could hear what they were talking about...the fish were amazing!

The Butterfly exhibit was beautiful...wish I could remember the names of these lovlies.

Eleanor and I went to a Butterfly exhibit like this in Tuscon, AZ when she was 6 months.

Now she is 6 years old...how time flies!

Right before we left the exhibit this butterfly landed on Eleanor, she was so happy!

Oscar, riding on Daddy's shoulders, was almost attacked by a T-Rex!

Abby & Oscar were most excited to see the "Dinosaur Bones!"

US Archives

Silvery Sycamore in the Statuary Garden

Emma was leading the "Parade" as they marched back to the Metro station.

The Boyters go to Washington!

Emma & Eleanor: Friends Forever

"Hello? Yes, Mr. Conductor, please have our train arrive promptly at platform #9."

Oscar loved playing on the pay phone while we were waiting for the train. I'm keeping this photo so I can show him one day that yes, there were actually public pay phones!?!